WEEK lending a hand to help someone else 1 Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet John 13:1-17 MEMORY VERSE Mark 9:35 P eter hurried to set out pottery dishes as John placed unleavened bread around the table. How did Jesus know some random guy with a water jar would have an open guest room for the Passover meal? Peter wondered aloud. Just as Jesus had instructed them, they had found a man carrying a water jar who had led them to this house where there was a guest room available. John shook his head. I don t know. He just... knows. No one has an open guest room at Passover, Peter pointed out. Both men paused to look around the airy upper room. The long table was surrounded by rough cushions where Jesus and His friends would sit. Yet, here we are, John said, smiling. Footsteps sounded on the stairs outside. There they come. Quick! said Peter. The two men rushed to finish setting out the meal. Did we think of everything? John wondered. We ve worked hard, Peter exclaimed. If anything s missing, someone else can deal. 1
As the setting sun angled through the window, Jesus and the rest of the disciples filed in. Everyone was tired from a long week of noisy crowds and hurried treks along dusty roads. Jesus, You can sit right here at the head of the table, Peter offered. James, Judas, over there... As Peter and John found their own places, Peter wrinkled his nose and whispered, What reeks? It s your feet, John fired back. The disciples were seated on cushions, feet propped where everyone could see and smell them. My feet? Peter grumbled. It s yours! Everyone s feet are disgusting, John pointed out. You know what Jerusalem streets are like. Peter wrinkled his nose and whispered, What reeks? It was true: every kind of dirt and muck was thrown out and trampled across the roads of the city. I d rather not think about it, said Peter. There s a basin under the window, John noted. We just need a servant to wash our feet. 2
A servant? Peter laughed. You think we d be making dinner if there was a servant around? He glanced down the table and whispered loudly to John s brother. James! Why did you put me over here? James asked. I should be sitting right by Jesus. We need you to wash everyone s feet, Peter directed. Me? James protested. You do it! We already made dinner, Peter told him. James turned to the man on his other side. Judas! he said. Foot washing. Get on it. Judas barely glanced up from the pile of coins he was sorting. Hello, can you not see I m busy? Counting our money? Important work. Okay, okay, Peter said. Who s least important? They scoped out the other side of the table. Thaddeus, James decided. No one ever remembers Thaddeus. Hey, Thaddeus! called Peter. John jabbed an elbow into Peter s side and whispered, Peter! Look. He gestured to the head of the table. Before the disciples had even begun arguing, Jesus had risen to His feet and removed His outer robe. Then He d found a towel, which He was wrapping around His waist. What is He doing? Peter wondered. Jesus poured water into the basin beneath the window. Peter cleared his throat and asked loudly. Um, Jesus... what are You doing? 3
Jesus knelt down beside Thaddeus, removed his sandals, and began to wash the caked muck off the man s feet. You can t do that! Peter protested. Jesus dried Thaddeus clean feet with the towel and moved on to Bartholomew. We should have done it, John whispered to Peter. This is our fault. Well, He can t wash my feet, Peter declared. Jesus continued around the table, washing and drying each man s feet. At last, He reached Peter. Lord... are you going to wash my feet? Peter asked. You don t realize now what I am doing, Jesus said. But later you will understand. Unless I wash you, you can t share life with me, said Jesus. Peter tucked his feet up under him, dirt and all. No way! You will never wash my feet! Unless I wash you, you can t share life with me, said Jesus. Peter blinked. He d spent the last three years of his life with Jesus, sharing everything. If he had to let Jesus wash his feet to continue, well, that s what he d do! Lord... not just my feet! he cried. 4
Peter untucked his feet and held out his hands, too. Wash my hands and my head too! he exclaimed. Jesus smiled and started rinsing Peter s feet. People who have had a bath need to wash only their feet. The rest of their body is clean. And you are clean. Peter nodded and held his tongue, for once. When Jesus was finished, he shrugged His robe back on and returned to His place at the table. Do you understand what I have done for you? He said. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another s feet.... Now you know these things. So you will be blessed if you do them. The disciples nodded. Jesus had made it clear that the goal in God s Kingdom wasn t competing to be important. It was about choosing to serve. It was completely backwards from the way things usually worked. Let s Talk! Has anyone ever surprised you by serving you in a way you didn t expect? Take a few minutes and share something someone else did for you. How did it make you feel? We tend to focus on ourselves and what we need. But when someone else steps in and lends a hand, it can make your day. And what Jesus did for the disciples, especially for Peter, changed their whole lives! It set an example for them and for us. Because Jesus, God s own Son, set aside what He deserved to serve His friends, we can serve our friends and families and the people we meet every day. Together, brainstorm some creative ways that you could serve others at home, school, and in your community. Then choose one to do this week. Ask God to give each of you a heart and opportunity to serve others. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER S VERSION 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. 2018 The rethink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5